Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

I used to visit California a lot. I would go for work trips and then...

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

I used to visit California a lot. I would go for work trips and then also, I’d go to visit one of my best friends, Cassidy, who now lives in Brooklyn (she moved here earlier this year!)

One of the things I loved most about California (aside from the year-round perfect weather and picturesque, Amalfi-coast like views) was the various cultural influences on their cuisine.

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

Due to California’s proximity to Hawaii, Asia and Mexico, there’s a lot of variety in flavors happening over there. One day, while visiting a friend in San Clemente, in Southern California, I went to this gorgeous restaurant on the pier. As we watched surfers by the beach, we had quite the eclectic meal, full of crispy fish tacos, sushi and ahi-tuna poke with avocado. We ate it all.

What? I was on vacation!

What impressed me most out of all of those mini-meals was the ahi-tuna poke. Tuna poke is basically marinated bite-sized pieces of sashimi grade ahi tuna (typically marinaded with sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, scallions and some sort of spice.)

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

The tuna poke wasn’t what impressed me, though – it was that it was sitting on a bed of cubed avocado and cucumbers with a cilantro drizzle. I mean, what sounds better than that? California, you’re killing it!

However, this recipe wasn’t brought on by that experience – although afterwards, I said to myself, “Oh yea, this is just like that time in San Clemente……

This recipe was brought on my quest for the perfect honeymoon destination. Yes, I’m already thinking about my honeymoon! I’m getting married on June 20 of next year (mark your calendars!) and will be honeymooning with my soon-to-be-husband Lu right after.

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

Every night, we Google “Honeymoon destinations” hoping to find something new, only to be brought back to the vicious cycle of “well, what if we just go back to Greece?” We went to Santorini and Mykonos last year and it was the best trip of my life, so now, it’s going to be hard for us to beat.

Top contenders (aside from Greece) are:

1. Lake Como and Capri (Italy)

2. Mexico – most likely Tulum

3. Turks & Caicos

4. Napa Valley and then Hawaii

While I was looking into hotels in all of those places, I checked out each spot’s menus (duh – the food’s the best part!) and stumbled upon a poke dish (at a Hawaiian hotel) not much different than the one I had that time in San Clemente.

The next day, I ran out to the store, bought the ingredients and whipped up my own spiralized version – which is even better than the California version (but lacking the gorgeous veranda, sunset and amazing breeze.)

You’re going to love this recipe – it’s easy to make, it’s flavorful, it’s eclectic and of course, it’s healthy. The dressed cucumber noodles make this poke a complete meal (typically, poke is served as an appetizer or salad.)

So… where should we go on our honeymoon? Help!

Nutritional Information & Recipe

Inspiralized

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls with Avocado and Cucumber Noodles

Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 3

Ingredients

  • 1 large sashimi grade ahi tuna steak diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 very ripe avocado peeled, insides cubed
  • 1 small jalapeno seeds removed, finely minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro
  • 1.5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1.5-2 large seedless cucumbers Blade C, noodles trimmed
  • For the poke dressing:
  • 2 teaspoons toasted white sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • ¼ cup soy sauce low-sodium
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • ¼ heaping cup finely diced scallions

Instructions

  • Place the tuna in a bowl with the poke dressing ingredients. Stir to combine and set aside to marinade.
  • While the tuna marinades, combine the avocado, jalapeno, cilantro and lime juice in a medium sized mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Whisk together until creamy. Taste and adjust, if needed.
  • Thoroughly pat dry the cucumber noodles and add them to the mixing bowl and toss the noodles until they’re completely coated in the avocado sauce.
  • Divide the cucumber noodles into three bowls and top with equal amounts of the tuna poke, using a slotted spoon to portion out the poke, to avoid extra liquid. Serve.
with love, Ali

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comments

  • Hi, this recipe looks amazing! I was wondering where you purchased Sashimi grade ahi tuna in the greater NYC area? I think you can get it at Whole Foods, but I was hoping you might know of a more economical choice. Thanks!
    • I found it at Whole Foods in TriBeCa in NYC! Sometimes a grocery store in Hoboken called Aspen Marketplace has it!
  • Honeymoon destination - I vote for Italy! It's amazing!
  • Oh honeymoon decisions! So hard. What type of honeymoon are you looking for? Beachy/relax-y or more adventure-y? Connor and I are going to Africa! :)
  • My husband and I went to Costa Rica for our honeymoon (almost 1 year ago!) and it was the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. Happy planning!
  • This dish looks AMAZING! I just got married in Playa del Carmen which is located a few miles from Tulum. That area of the world is absolutely stunning! (FYI: I used lots of your Inspiralized recipes prior to the big day!) I didn't get a chance to visit Tulum, but based on my research and what my wedding planner told me, Tulum is very 'eco-friendly'. In other words, some of the nicer places can be relatively more expensive and some of them won't have air conditioning--and it will be hot and possibly rainy in June. All that said, you will still have a fab time anyway! The cenotes are amazing, as are the food and Mayan temples. I also vote for Italy (especially Florence) and Turks and Caicos (my dream destination).
  • On mine in 2003 I started in Vancouver went through the Canadian Rockies, ending up at the Chateau Lake Louise. (Google if you aren't familiar, it's breathtaking.) Talk about views; that one's about as gorgeous as they get in all of North America. I hiked a glacier, saw wild animas in Jasper, shopped in Banff (and look up the Fairmont Banff)... Lots of hiking, gorgeous mountain views restaurants of all kinds... it was a trip I'd wanted to take ever since I saw a relative's photos when I was a kid. I spent several years in Europe in my teens and still count the Candian Rockies among the most beautiful places on earth. Plus I can get there in half the time, and have half the jet lag. A good piece of advice someone gave me was, after an exhausting weekend, how long so you want to sit on a plane, and how much recovery time will you need at the far end? The answer varies for everyone but in my case, it wasn't the weekend to fly all those hours to Tanzania and take that dream safari: other continents will still be there when I'm ready to go, or go back. Know yourself. You aren't restricted to only typical honeymoon destinations. Go somewhere exciting, historical, or action-packed, if that's your thing. And wherever you go, enjoy!
  • This recipe reminds me of my honeymoon in Hawaii last year! I ate more poke than I thought humanly possible and I'm not sorry about it lol. I'm partial to Hawaii as a honeymoon spot, we spent a week in Maui and and week in Kauai. Hawaii is the most picturesque place I've ever seen, it's unbelievably beautiful. We stayed at the Westin in Maui which was amazing and the perfect location (walking distance to some amazing restaurants and right on the beach) and in Kauai we stayed at the Sheraton. The best poke I had was in Kauai at Plantation Gardens. This was one of the coolest restaurants I have ever been to, and there is a hotel attached! We ate there at least 3 times. The grounds have a really interesting history, it's worth a Google search! Happy planning!
  • This recipe looks amazing! I can't wait to try it!!
  • OMG I need to try this recipe out asap! And I also vote for Italy :)
  • I'm from Northern CA and we visit Maui and Napa regularly! (We were actually in Napa for a wedding the weekend of the earthquake! YIKES) My two favorite places on earth! This recipe reminds me of Maui. There is a grocery store that sells 12 different fresh poke salads. You always see a line of locals buying it up!
  • I just started following your blog! I bought a spiralizer last month and was looking for what to make and found you. I live in San Clemente so I had to comment on this post :). I also was in Whole Foods yesterday and my 10 year old saw the sushi grade ahi and was begging me to make some poke with it. Guess I have to go back now and get some because this combo with the cucumber noodles looks awesome! Thanks for the idea. Looking forward to making it!
    • I love that! You're very lucky to live in San Clemente - it's absolutely amazing! I hope you try the recipe :)
  • First, thank you for explaining what poke is. I've seen/heard of it before, but not with any kind of explanation. Second, I would recommend Tulum, or anywhere on the Mayan Riviera. There's lots of great stuff to see in the area, including Chichen Itza, which is fabulous. My husband's nephew got married at the El Dorado Royale resort last year, and it was a wonderful experience. It was as good as being on a cruise ship, but without the threat of seasickness. Second choice for me would be Turks & Caicos. Clearly you have wide-ranging interests in travel, so your best choice is the one that calls loudest to you at the moment.
  • I've been to Hawaii, live in California (originally from Long Island) so I've done the wine country many times;toured Europe, saw a travel video on Lake Como, Italy years before George Clooney made it famous and fell in love with Lake Como (of course falling in love with George is a no brainer, but now he's getting married in LAKE COMO). So my vote is for Lake Como and Capri, you will never regret it. Always try to experience something new. Later in life there's always time for repeats to a former place visited.
  • If you're looking for a great/healthy foodie honeymoon spot, checkout the Cuisinart resort on Anguilla. We went there for our 10th anniversary and it was amazing!!! They have their own hydroponic gardens that they use to grow their own produce. You can tour the gardens and take cooking lessons.
  • I'm in Hawaii for a month and poke is everywhere! AND, I just happen to have some left over from last nite that needs to be eaten today, and the lady at the farmers mkt overloaded me with avocados...guess what I'm having for a snack later?! Tx, I'm lovin it! Oh, and my two cents...ALL your choices are perfect! Have a great time planning the perfect honeymoon!
  • Can't wait to make this recipe! We went last year to Rosewood Mayakoba near Tulum and it was fabulous. Service was second to none. The food was incredible. I ate ceviche every day for lunch! Here's their site if you want more info: http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba-riviera-maya
    • My husband and I went there as well for our honeymoon, and it was literally the most insane place I have ever been. Could not have been more perfect.
  • The Auvergene is really one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Add to that the amazing Saler and Abondance herds and their lush pastures, which are responsible for the amazing cheeses produced there, then throw in some beautiful ancient villages and wonderful food offered by some very friendly folks and it is hard to remember that I am there to work, but this cheese is what is what I came for." The above quote is from a subscription I have to a cheese-maker who publishes a detailed instruction on how to make a different cheese every month. Since you use and recommend different cheeses quite often, I thought you and Lu might enjoy a Honeymoon in France but not where everybody else goes. Besides that, the trip would be at least partly deductible as a business research expense. Malcolm.
  • We were in Hawaii last fall (Oahu and Maui) and could not get enough of tuna poke! I am so excited to try this!!! Loved Maui and would love to go back this time to Kauai and the big island. BUT, from NJ that trip is long!!! Spent a week last January in Turks and Caicos and loved, loved, loved it, and the 3.5 hour plane ride (non-stop, too!) made it all the better! That being said, if Italy is in the running, I would totally choose that,lol! I have been wanting to go to Italy for quite some time, and as a foodie, I am sure you would love it even more!
  • My boyfriend just got a bunch of tuna and since zucchini and cucumbers are fresh right now I'll be making this very soon!
  • Two of my favorite places on earth - Salamanca, Spain and Cusco, Peru. Amazing things to do in both locations. Salamanca will have more restaurants & some of my favorite foods (paella, etc) but Cusco has some amazing foods to explore like REAL ceviche and (bonus!) Macchu Picchu.
  • Would this work if I marinaded the tuna and then cooked it on a sauce pan? Same with the cucumber... Could I cook the noodles and heat up the sauce for that??
  • Just wanted to drop a note and say this is delicious! I've been struggling to find a groove for healthy eating and weight loss without feeling deprived, and I've tried a few of your recipes and I am definitely "inspiralized" to keep going. I'm already starting to drop weight in the few days I've been eating inspiralized and I just got your book - thanks!!
    • This is fabulous to hear, Katherine! We're so happy you've been Inspiralized! You're going to love the way you feel.
    • I'm so happy to hear it! Finding your healthy stride is definitely a journey, but once you've found it, it's the best feeling!
  • You are thheeee best!!! I love sushi and for a year I've been trying to find a poke restaurant in DC (I'd never eaten poke before), I finally found one a week ago, and it was AMAZING!!! I keep telling my sister we need to go, and looking through your site I figured I should just find a recipe. I honestly didn't think you had a recipe for poke so I went to google, and when I opened the page it was your page, kinda funny, wasn't expecting to find this here. Can't wait to try this ^_^
  • We just returned from our honeymoon in Hawaii, and we tried probably six or seven different ahi poke and salmon poke and tako poke... We went to the Big Island and stayed north of Kona. Lovely weather, beaches and poke! Now we are back in South Bay area and see lots of new poke restaurants. Yummm!
  • Why are you dividing it into 3 serving bowls if the serving size is one??
  • It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Chat soon!